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Logic Puzzle Name_________________________________ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, a novel by J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger are trapped in a room with only two exits, both blocked by flames. On a table in the room are seven differently shaped bottles along with the following clues on a roll of paper:

Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind, Two of us will help you, whichever you would find, One among us seven will let you move ahead, Another will transport the drinker back instead, Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line. Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore, To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four: First, however slyly the poison tries to hide You will always find some on nettle wine’s left side; Second, different are those who stand at either end, But if you would move onward, neither is your friend; Third, as you see clearly, all are different size, Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides; Fourth, the second left and second on the right Are twins once you taste them, thought different at first sight.

(Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Rowling, 1998, p. 285)

Hermione realizes that logical reasoning is needed to determine which bottles will lead to their escape. She states: “This isn’t magic – it’s logic – a puzzle. A lot of the great wizards haven’t got an ounce of logic, they’d be stuck in here forever.” Hermione determines which bottles lead to their escape. She returns through the purple flame to assist Ron and get help while Harry goes forward through the black flame toward the Stone and the villain. From which bottles did each drink?